Where the demand for landing and takeoff slots exceeds airport capacity, slots are allocated in line with standard procedures. Now the Commission wishes to change these slot allocation rules in order to improve the efficient use of airport capacities.

cepPolicyBrief

Increasing the slot utilisation rate to 85% enhances the efficiency of airport infrastructure use, because it means that as a rule only a maximum capacity of 15% remains unutilised. The increase in the number of slots which is necessary in order to maintain priority for a series of slots in the next corresponding season facilitates airport access for new entrants but has a negative effect on the planning certainty of air carriers and reduces their flexibility.